Stop violence against women: Campaign starts on Monday

JEDDAH: Princess Hussa bint Tarad Ashaalan, wife of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, will launch on Monday a nationwide campaign by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) to stop violence against women.

The HRC's women's wing said it was holding the yearlong campaign as part of its responsibility to Saudi society. "The campaign is aimed at enlightening women of their rights," said Wafiqa Al-Dakheel, supervisor of the women's wing.

Dakheel emphasized the need to provide legal and social assistance to women who are victims of family violence. "The campaign will also highlight the importance of devising an effective plan to stop violence against women and establish centers to treat the victims of such violence," she added.

The campaign also aims to educate men on the need to improve their treatment of women. The campaign includes seminars on the rights of divorced women, special needs women and Saudi women married to foreigners.

There will be a competition for the best article highlighting violence against women, she said. Articles published between Dec. 29, 2008 and April 26, 2009, will be considered for participation in the competition.

The campaign comes in the wake of the growing number of cases of domestic violence across the Kingdom. As many as 230 such cases were reported in Riyadh this year, one source said. The capital city accounts for around 29 percent of divorces in the Kingdom.

The Council of Ministers last month reiterated the government's resolve to protect the rights of women. It also called for more efforts to increase awareness among women about their rights.

Abdul Ilah Saaty of the Jeddah Community College praised the Cabinet decision to improve the condition of women. "Our women have suffered for decades because their legitimate rights were not protected."

He also emphasized the need to change the attitude of society to women's rights. "Islam protects the rights of women. The Qur'an and Sunnah urge Muslims to be kind to women. But we are not doing that."

Abdul Razak Al-Zahrani of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University said a committee of experts should be formed to look into family violence cases. "Newly married couples must be given guidance on how to avoid conflicts in family life," he said, adding that mosques, schools and the media have their roles to play.

Enaam Raboue, president of the Association for Family Protection in Jeddah, said her organization received more than 250 family violence cases in the last five months. Mental illness, drug abuse, alcoholism, poverty, unemployment and a lack of religious commitment and education were some of the reasons for family violence, she added. [P.K. Abdul Ghafour | Arab News ]